Interfacility fun

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Last, last weekend we got called to take a multi system trauma to a level 1 trauma center. Our patient had been jogging on the road, going against traffic has she should have, and a person came around a corner too widely, crossed the center line, hitting her in the back. Among scrapes and bruises, the patient had a ruptured bladder, a broken leg in two places, and widening of pubic symphysis (the ligaments that hold your pelvis together). She was pretty stable and wasn’t any trouble on the ride to the other hospital, but I was happy to give her as much morphine as she wanted.

A few weeks ago we went for a psych problem. When we arrived we found a little lady who had apparently called the police and threatened suicide. We take that pretty seriously, and were happy to take her to the hospital for help. She was ranting and raging about something or other and then yelled even more when we came in about how Medicare wouldn’t pay for the ride to the hospital. We assured her that we could write it up so that they would pay. She didn’t believe us. We waited while she found her coat, got a glass of water, made a phone call, and when we were finally about to leave when she said ‘Ooh, just a minute’. We all watched as she leaned over her answering machine and left a new message. “Hello you’ve reached (blank) I have been taken to the hospital by the police in an ambulance, I’ll be home later.” I couldn’t believe she did this, and neither could anyone else. I had a little chuckle to myself and we were on our way. How bizarre.

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